The Face of God

My quiet time today centered on the life of Jacob, the man from whom the 12 tribes of Israel came. He certainly had a dramatic, tele-novela life.

What riveted me most, however, was when he went back to his homeland to seek the forgiveness of his brother, whom he had wronged.

If you remember your Bible, he betrayed his brother Esau at the deathbed of their father. At his mother's prodding, Jacob pretended to be Esau so he could receive their father's blessings.

It was a horrid story of treachery, a crime so grave Jacob had to flee to a faraway land to escape the rightful wrath of his brother.

Many years, wives, and children later, Jacob (now a very wealthy man) returned to his place of birth with gifts and a humble heart to patch things up with his brother Esau.

Esau welcomed Jacob back and said that gifts were not necessary. 

“But Jacob insisted, 'No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!'” Genesis 33:10 (NLT)

The face of God.

Not one of us still living on earth today has seen that holy face. But Jacob gives us a glimpse:

God's face is a face . . .
of forgiveness,
of welcome,
of friendship,
of smile,
of everything good,
of everything warm and wonderful.

Question to self: When you look in the mirror, do you see the face of God? 

 
In Psalm 17:15, we read: “Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.”

Lord, when I awake tomorrow morning and look in the mirror, please make me stand in your grace and see you face to face. Amen.

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